Assam's new Uniform Civil Code requires all live-in couples to file their relationship with district officials within 30 days — or face up to three months in prison. The government is now your relationship's primary compliance officer.
The Assam Legislative Assembly passed the Uniform Civil Code, 2026, making it mandatory for couples in live-in relationships to formally register with the state within 30 days of moving in together, under penalty of three months' imprisonment or a ₹10,000 fine. The law also bans polygamy, attracting up to seven years in jail. Officials say this provides legal protection to unmarried couples. Critics note that the government's newfound concern for cohabiting Indians has not previously extended to reliable drinking water or pothole-free roads. Assam becomes the third state after Uttarakhand and Gujarat to enact the UCC, meaning it is now legally necessary to notify district authorities before your toothbrush permanently migrates to someone else's bathroom shelf.